Introduction and reasons for elective home education
Elective home education (EHE) is the term used by the Department for Education (DfE) to describe a parent's decision to provide education for their children other than at to school. This is different to home tuition provided by a local authority for those children too ill to come to school or education provided by a local authority other than at a school.
These guidelines are intended for use in relation to EHE only and in conjunction with the DfE's guidance. Throughout these guidelines, 'parents' should be taken to include all those with parental responsibility, including guardians and carers as per s.7 of the Education Act 1996.
Where their parents elect to educate, children are not usually registered at:
- mainstream schools
- special schools
- independent schools
- academies
- Pupil Referral Units (PRUs)
- colleges
- children's homes with education facilities or
- education facilities provided by independent fostering agencies.
However, in some cases parents may make arrangements for a child to receive part of his or her total education at a school (‘flexi-schooling’) - or at an FE college or other 16- 19 provider if the child is aged 14 or above. The purpose of this will often be to provide education in specific subjects more easily than is possible at home. Schools and colleges are under no obligation to agree to such arrangements, but some are on occasion willing to do so. Some parents may also choose to engage private tutors or other adults to assist them in providing a suitable education; there is no requirement for you to do so but this may be a relevant option.
Parents may choose home education for a variety of reasons. Our primary interest lies in the suitability of parents' education provision and not their reason for doing so. The following reasons for home educating are common, but by no means exhaustive:
- Ideological or philosophical views which you feel would be better promoted through education at home
- Religious or cultural beliefs
- Dissatisfaction with the school system
- Distance to a local school
- Bullying
- As a short term intervention for a particular reason
- The child’s unwillingness or inability to go to school
- Special educational needs not being met within the school system
- Health reasons, particularly mental health
However, the Local Authority is keen that where EHE results from an issue with the school provision, that assistance is provided to parents to resolve this if possible.